Wins only number that counts for D-Backs

The Diamondbacks still have not scored more runs than their opponents this season, and they probably never will. Ask them if they care.

D-Backs notebook: Hitters relaxing, seeing results

Read Jack Magruder's blog, Inside Baseball

“The last I checked, wins and losses determine who goes to the playoffs,” Eric Byrnes said.

“I’m on a team that is in first place.”

The D-Backs (86-67) are any combination of seven victories and Philadelphia losses away from making the postseason and would be one of six teams in major league history to advance to the postseason despite giving up more runs than they score. They are minus-21.

And their emergent season could get even more historic. If the D-Backs hold off New York and San Diego for the best record in the NL, they will be the first team since 1900 to have the best record in their league with a negative run differential.

“As far as I’m concerned, all the stat geeks really don’t come into play in this situation,” Byrnes said.

One equation devised by baseball geeks, the so-called Pythagorean method used to predict a team’s record based on its runs scored/allowed, projects the D-Backs to be 74-79 entering the final home series against Los Angeles tonight.

“I laugh,” clubhouse leader Tony Clark said. “I laugh because conventional wisdom would suggest all kinds of things. But if you have been around the game long enough, you know the ball bounces different ways sometimes.

“You always hear the cliché, if you have 25 guys pulling in the same direction, anything can happen. We have found a way, and it’s a reflection of our manager, Bob Melvin, who better start getting some more consideration for Manager of the Year.”

Melvin, who has emerged as the leading candidate for the award, has a simple explanation to a complex issue.

“Timing is everything,” he said. “It’s just been very good timing.”

When the D-Backs win, they win close. When they lose … not so much.

The D-Backs have played and won the most one-run games in the major leagues, a function of a pitching staff that general manager Josh Byrnes refurbished in the offseason.

The D-Backs have made 80 quality starts, fourth in the NL, which has enabled them to stay in games into the late innings, when often only a hit or two is required.

The back end of the bullpen — setup men Tony Pena and Brandon Lyon and closer Jose Valverde — have 62 holds and 50 saves, meaning most leads are safe.

Valverde leads the majors with 45 saves, and Lyon leads with 33 holds.

They are 69-6 when leading after seven innings despite having the lowest batting average and the lowest batting average with runners in scoring position in the league.

“There are so many different numbers out there and statistics out there … we’ve shown that we can win ball games,” Chris Young said. “We never give up. Other teams see that. It just wears off on you. Hustle and determination have really paid off for us.”

The most recent to notice is San Francisco left-hander Barry Zito, who gave up five runs in a 6-4 loss to the D-Backs on Wednesday. It was only the fifth time in 95 career starts that Zito had lost despite getting four runs of support.

“They’ve got a good lineup. They’re scrappy. They don’t have a lot of huge numbers, but it’s a lot of guys who want to play and want to win,” Zito said.

“That strong desire to win and that good camaraderie in the clubhouse … that can go a long way.”

Zito compared the D-Backs’ spunk to World Series winners Anaheim (2002) and Florida (2003).

At this point, the D-Backs are most similar to the 1997 Giants, who won the NL West at 90-72 despite scoring eight fewer runs than their opponents.

“If you compare player to player, we had more veteran players with better numbers,” said Giants infielder Rich Aurilia, a youngster on a team that included Barry Bonds, Jeff Kent and J.T. Snow.

“I give this (D-Backs) team credit. They’ve done it with a lot of young players and a lot of big hits. Their pitching has been consistent all year. All their guys keep them in the game, and their bullpen has done a great job.

“And they catch the ball. When you have pitching and defense, you are going to be OK.”